Tag: 2016 Summer Olympics

by Christienna Fryar and Shireen Ahmed 2016 may have been one of the most taxing years in recent history with the loss of sporting and artistic greats, but it also showed tremendous sportsmanship and glory from female athletes. For all its problems, the Olympics have reliably become one of the best showcases of women’s sports and… Read More

We cannot encourage a culture where only one member of a marginalised group is reserved a platform by Chan Maroon The public spotlight can often be cruel towards those aiming for success. In these Olympics, it has been particularly cruel for gymnast, Gabby Douglas. Douglas was thrust into the public consciousness after her winning display… Read More

by Christienna Fryar The swimming competition at these Olympics was exceptional, and in a meet of dazzling racing, nail-biting finishes, and unexpected medallists, there was no more important a finish than when Simone Manuel surged at the end of the 100 metre freestyle, tying Penny Oleksiak for gold. Manuel became the first black woman to win… Read More

by Shane Thomas Back in 2003, I remember sitting in the cinema to watch the final film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I remember watching the climax to one of Western cinema’s landmark achievements. I remember my chest swelling as I was about to exhale a fulfilled sigh as the film ended. And then… Read More

Dispatch from Rio by Felipe Araujo The day after the Opening Ceremony of the Rio Olympics, I found myself in northern Rio’s Madureira Park – a place far away from the bright lights of the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. On weekends, it’s here that Cariocas from the surrounding favelas congregate to spend quality… Read More

by Cléber Araujo It’s time to talk about the union of the people, the peace that is brought by the Olympic torch, and the peace the nations of the world desire. And when we talk about our favela, peace is urgent and necessary, even more so in a moment like this, when the world’s eyes… Read More

by Shane Thomas There are times when an athlete feels less like an athlete and more like a fixed point in existence – think of visiting the Great Wall of China, or the Grand Canyon. After a while, they stop being extraordinary. They just feel inevitable. When an athlete transcends into the pantheon of inevitability,… Read More

by Amit Singh The conversation around performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) has been a huge issue at Rio 2016, and became an even hotter topic after the International Paralympics Committee announced that they have banned (pending an appeal) the entire Russian team from this summer’s Paralympics; a result of allegations that Russia instituted a state-sponsored program… Read More

by Christienna Fryar A few weeks ago, a black woman won Wimbledon. She beamed as she received her trophy in the stands. Venus Williams; 2016 Wimbledon doubles champion. She’s still got it. As her younger sister Serena has marched her way toward G.O.A.T status, it’s become all too easy to lose track of Venus. Yet it’s… Read More

by Shireen Ahmed Two months ago, the United Nations Refugee Agency released a report that found in 2015, wars, persecution, and conflict had driven more people away from their homes and communities than in any year since the UN began keeping records. A staggering amount have risked their lives, spending every penny they have in… Read More